San Diego, Grand Canyon and the National Parks

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted on any coach forming part of your holiday; regular stops will be made though for your comfort en route. The majority of hotels in North America are non-smoking throughout including in all bedrooms. In general smoking outside is acceptable, but do look out for signs prohibiting this close to public entrances or bus stops.

Tipping

Gratuities are a way of life in North America, and it is generally accepted that they form part of a person's earnings. Customary gratuity to a coach driver or tour manager is about $3 per person per day; in a taxi or a restaurant leave 12-15 per cent of the bill and, in the bar, leave a dollar or so per drink.

Day One

Fly west to sun-drenched San Diego, California and transfer by coach to your hotel for a two-night stay.

Day Two

Get to know this beautiful city on a guided tour. Visit the restored Downtown area, great Santa Fe Railroad Depot, and 'olde worlde' Gaslamp District. Across the Bay Bridge, Coronado Island is home to the Hotel del Coronado, where 'Edward' first met 'Mrs Simpson', and Marilyn Monroe filmed 'Some Like it Hot'. This afternoon, perhaps visit Balboa Park's museums and galleries, or world-famous San Diego Zoo.

Day Three

Journey into the Nevada Desert to Laughlin stopping en route at Oatman, an authentic Wild West gold-mining town.

Known as 'Vegas in Miniature', Laughlin is a purpose-built resort town on the bank of the Colorado River, Laughlin has many amenities for you to enjoy. A riverside boardwalk connects hotels and restaurants, and leads to the resort's excellent shopping mall.

Day Four

An unforgettable day as you journey to the unbelievable abyss that is the Grand Canyon. An optional flight over the Canyon should certainly not be missed - choose between the light aircraft option and the thrill of a helicopter ride on which you'll swoop like an eagle into the canyon itself.

This evening you'll stay in Page, Arizona, on the shores of vast, man-made Lake Powell.

Day Five

Enjoy an optional cruise on tranquil Lake Powell, encircled by its red sandstone walls, or take the optional flight to the amazing Rainbow Bridge National Monument and on across Monument Valley. In this wondrous background to countless westerns, you'll discover a stunning landscape of red-rock pinnacles framed against the blue sky.

This afternoon you'll cross the immense Glen Canyon Dam as you head to your overnight hotel on the edge of the Bryce Canyon National Park.

Day Six

Today you'll explore Bryce Canyon, where millions of years of erosion by ice and water have left hundreds of weird, towering red, yellow and orange pinnacles that resemble nothing else on Earth, and see beautiful Zion National Park, with its forests and plunging waterfalls - a lush contrast to Bryce's desolation.

In the evening you'll arrive in the equally staggering - but completely different - Nevada Desert oasis of glittering Las Vegas. Get to know this World Capital of Entertainment on our optional Vegas by Night tour.

Day Seven

Spend the day at leisure in Las Vegas, or go bargain-hunting on our optional Outlet Mall excursion. With transfers to and from the Las Vegas's Premium Outlets, you'll have the chance to browse over 50 stores offering a wide range of designer and high street labels at reduced prices.

Alternatively, join our second, optional, excursion to the Grand Canyon. Fly from Las Vegas to the Canyon's West Rim, where the native Hualapai tribe have constructed a vertigo-inducing, half-circular glass bridge 4000 feet above the canyon floor.

This afternoon you'll head back to California, for a final night in Palm Springs, home to the late Bob Hope and a host of Hollywood stars. Enjoy the chance of some late-night shopping in the desert-city's iconic shops and boutiques.

Day Eight

Return to Los Angeles airport and check in for your flight home.

Day Nine

Arrive back home, after an overnight flight.